Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon claims his lingering calf injury doesn’t bother him anymore, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. The veteran big man has been playing under a minutes restriction, but it sounds like he’s eager to change that.
“I’m ready,” Gordon said. “I don’t feel my calf anymore. Yeah. I’m ready. So it’s on the training staff and the coaching staff now.”
Gordon has yet to play more than 25 minutes in a contest since returning from the calf injury on January 12. Durando notes that staggering the minutes of Gordon and Jokic has had an intriguing benefit for Denver — the Nuggets sport a +9.5 net rating when Gordon plays without Jokic. Denver has historically suffered when its three-time MVP, who generally plays alongside Gordon, sits. The 6’8″ forward is the 2023 champs’ top defender, as well as a savvy and efficient post scorer.
“We just need to continue to stay with it,” head coach Michael Malone said of the team’s current strategy. “Bring him off the bench for the time being, and utilize him in any way we can to help us get wins.”
There’s more out of Denver:
- As Gordon’s health continues to improve, it begs the question of just when — or if — he should be returned to the Nuggets’ starting five. The Denver Post’s Troy Renck and Bennett Durando consider whether or not such a move should happen, and how it would impact the way in which Denver approaches this year’s trade deadline. Russell Westbrook has been starting ahead of Gordon lately, with forward Michael Porter Jr. playing up a position to accommodate the extra guard.
- After a middling 11-10 start to the season, with Jokic averaging 37.7 minutes a night, the Nuggets hardly looked like they’d have much left in the tank for the playoffs. But something has shifted lately. Now, Denver is 28-17, currently good for the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed. In another story for The Denver Post, Durando assesses the team’s needs at the trade deadline, suggesting that a frontcourt upgrade or some long-range bench sniping could help improve the team for the 2024/25 home stretch.
- In case you missed it, Jokic continues to make a case for earning his second consecutive MVP award this spring — and his fourth in five years.
Lavine makes sense, so does John Collins. Imagine if nuggets trade for Yabusele too.
I don’t see them trading Murray or Gordon as they’re both key pieces to the Nuggets success so they’d have to trade Porter. The Jazz or Bulls would want significant draft compensation to take on Porter’s contract which the Nuggets don’t have.
If they did manage either trade it would cause some positional log jams. PCollins would give Denver two expensive starting caliber PFs. LaVine would give them two very expensive score first guards.
They need defensive wing depth and a capable backup center. They could see if they could get Bruce Brown back along with Kelly Olynyk for Michael Porter Jr and their 2031 1st round pick.
Imagine if they found Yabusele before the 76s did..
If Nikola Jokic was wearing a Lakers or Knicks jersey ….. He would be in the discussion as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Jokic is without question the best player in the NBA. It ain’t even close, and hasn’t been for years. This is the one guy who doesn’t just dominate statistically, but his monster stats are all part of the process of Denver winning. No stat padding for Jokic. This guy is at his best late in games that are close, or when Denver is losing. Elevates the play of his teammates better than anyone in the league. One of the best to ever play the game!
If the Nuggets are going to put Gordon back in the starting lineup, it’ll probably be Braun who drops to the bench. However, Braun is one of their key defenders, particularly guarding the pick & roll. Not to mention his high percentage shooting (57% from the field – pretty absurd for a 6″6 wing), which is exactly what the Nuggets need to offset Westbrook’s streakiness.
The not-so-talked about possibility, is moving Murray to the second unit and starting Gordon. The second unit needs offense, and with the emergence of the Jokic-Westbrook combination, Murray would be exactly the offense they need off the bench. I can’t imagine the team having the guts to not start a max-contract guy though, even if it makes sense on paper.
We are cooked
Denver just lost to the BULLS, Mike Malone needs to stop being a bad coach for once and just do what a 5 year old would do in his position which is starting Aaron Gordon.
Jokic winning his second straight, not third.
That will happen next year after winning this year and the next.
DeAndre Hunter and Nance Jr give them depth.